The Colombian energy transition is expected to result in an excess of renewable electricity. A potential strategy to enhance the renewable energy sector involves utilizing this surplus electricity in small-scale bioethanol biorefineries, particularly by incorporating electric-powered lignocellulose pretreatments. Feasibility depends on the trade-off between the normalized total value added TVA and safety, health, and environmental (SHE) impacts, as well as on energy efficiency (the ratio of total carbohydrate yield to total energy consumption). Here, we evaluate two electric-powered pretreatments, reactive extrusion (RE) and mechanocatalysis (Me), against two conventional, steam-based methods, steam explosion (SE) and ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX). Retrofitting indicators —derived from literature-based, kilogram-scale experiments— modeled TVA values of the electric (RE: 0.01 to -2; Me: -8 to -28) and the conventional methods (SE: 0.54 to 0.04; AFEX: 0.21 to 0.08). Higher values in the former methods are expected, given the use of electrical energy over steam. However, when TVA is modeled alongside SHE impacts in cumulative indexes (CI), RE overlaps with AFEX, suggesting competitiveness under certain circumstances (CI: RE:1.3-2.9; AFEX: 1.7-1.9; SE: 0.7-1.2; Me: 8.9-28.9). Energy efficiency ranges indicate gains for all methods (Me: 0.02-0.18; RE: 0.38-3.94; SE:1.22-3.59; AFEX: 1.33-3.92 kWh/kg). AFEX is found to be the most efficient for carbohydrate production, but the RE range overlaps with both SE and AFEX, suggesting potential competitiveness result and net energy gains. The electric methods may be feasible to implement in areas with electricity and biomass surpluses, like remote regions of developing countries where conventional methods are not profitable.